Super Shane Southwell Clinches The Win In Morgantown

By John Hayden

Peter G. Aiken – US Presswire

The 18th team in the nation,Kansas State went into Morgantown and pulled out a terrific victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers. It was a back and forth game with the Wildcats finally winning by one. The Mountaineers needed this win because it is hard to win on the road in the Bog 12 especially when you lose at home twice already. The Oklahoma Sooners came into a few weeks ago and gave the Mountaineers their first Big 12 loss.

It came down to two free throws with 21 seconds and a blocked shot of the winning layup by Shane Southwell to claim the win. Southwell and Rodney McGruder both had 17 points for the Wildcats who have won 6 consecutive games. The lead changed hands six times in the final eight minutes. West Virginia had a chance to retake the lead after Southwell’s two free throws but instead had their last shot by Gary Browne swatted away.

This game was all about defense and both teams showed how badly they wanted to win the game. West Virginia was without their second leading scorer Juwan Staten, who was benched becauseof a disciplinary issue for the second straight game. Kansas State is ready to take down the other Kansas team to win the Big 12 this season. They have showed how they can win at home and on the road.

Kansas State kept their composure and didn’t get rattled down the stretch. With the help of the unsung hero, Southwell who has only started six times this season, the Wildcats prevailed. Southwell is averaging 6.3 points per games but today he brought it. Coach Bruce Webber said that Southwell is as talented than anyone else on the team.

West Virginia wanted this game bad especially since Bob Huggins once coached the Wildcats. They tried all the way to the buzzer to claim the victory but it slipped from their hands. Senior Jabarie Hinds had a career-high 15 points for West Virginia and did his best to win their first Big 12 game at home. Even junior Aaric Murray and freshman Terry Henderson added 11 and 10 points, respectively to bring Morgantown a victory.

West Virginia has another chance to win at home when TCU comes to town on the 23rd. As for the Kansas State Wildcats, thanks to Super Shane Southwell, will get to play at TCU and try for 7 straight wins.